Ebenezer Hall

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Ebenezer's father, Samuel Hall, in his will, dated January 25, 1688-89, willed

". . . to sons Ebenezer and George several pieces of land to be divided . . . ."

Other siblings named in the will were John, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, and

Hannah. (

Bristol County Probate Records,

Vol. 3 & 4, p. 121)

In 1700, Ebenezer was on the Roster of the First Military Company of Taunton.

Taunton's Records of Soldiers in Queen Ann's War has two orders from Major

Benjamin Church of Bristol County who commanded an expedition to Casco Bay. One

is termed a special impress warrant dated August 24, 1700, "In order to the

exacting a trading post and some fortification at or near Casco Bay." It names

Benjamin Caswell, Thomas Caswell, Eleazer Wilbore, Ephriam Burt, and Ebenezer

Hall. Ebenezer was evidently back from Casco by the next year; another impress

warrant dated September 10, 1701, named Matthew White, William Macomber, the son

of John Macomber the Cooper or Ebenezer Hall. It stated "Fail not at your

perill." If Ebenezer was impressed at this time, he was back to be married to

Jane Bumpus on June 22, 1704. (Samuel Emery,

History of Taunton, Massachusetts,

p. 410)

Bristol County Deeds 5:339 reveal that John, son of Thomas Caswell, purchased

two parcels of land containing 100 acres in Taunton North Purchase from

Ebenezer Hall on Oct. 3, 1707--42 acres on Eight Mile Plain and 58 acres on

both sides of the foot path on Eight Mile Plain leading to Canoe (Canoo) River.

Ebenezer and Jane lived in the Mansfield part of Norton, Bristol County, Mass.,

for some time. On November 27, 1707, Ebenezer signed a petition for the

incorporation of Norton separate from Taunton, the residents being remote from

Taunton, some being a part of Taunton Old Town and some being a part of Taunton

North Purchase. (George Faber Clark,

A History of the Town of Norton,

Boston, Massachusetts, Crosby, Nichols and Company, 1859, pp. 16-17)

In July, 1716, Casco Fort in Falmouth was considered no longer necessary by the

Massachusetts House of Representatives and was ordered demolished. According to

Willis, at that time about fifteen men, besides women and children, were

gathered upon the Neck and were probably disbanded soldiers, including James

Doughty, John Gustin, Mark Rounds, Mathew and William Scoles, Eben Hall, Thomas

Thomes, John Wass, James Mills, Joseph Bean, and John Barbour, father and son.

(William Willis,

The History of Portland,

Portland, Maine, Charles Day & Co., 1883, p. 14)

Ebenezer was an early settler of Falmouth, farming for a living. In May, 1717,

Ebenezer Hall and others signed a petition to the Massachusetts Bay Governor and

Council which consisted of a request to resettle Falmouth. The petition related

to the claims of former proprietors who had left in 1703 due to Indian warfare

and who were now pressing claims to the land. (

Ibid.,

p. 15)

The following year, on April 2, 1718, Ebenezer purchased, for 25 pounds, about

50 acres of Casco Bay land from John Smith of the Plymouth Colony, as recorded

in

York Deeds, Book XVI,

Folio 125.

In May, 1719, a committee was appointed to lay out lots upon the Neck. This wa

s

immediately after the town was formed in March 1719. Ebenezer had land on

Middle Street, a lot being 12 rods on the front and running North to the back of

Queen Street, one and one-half acres. The lot was not on the waters of Back

Cove. (

Ibid.,

pp. 18-19)

Evidently, Ebenezer was farming on July 26, 1721, his creatures to be

identified by "The mark of Ebenezer Hall creatuers is a hoole in the nere ear."

(F. Gerrish, Copier,

Original Records of the Proprietors of Falmouth,

1718-26, Portland, Maine, 1861, p. 120)

On April 1, 1724, at a legal meeting of the proprietors, his house lots and 10

acres of low meadow ground were confirmed. (

Ibid.,

p. 28)

Both Ebenezer, Sr. and his son Ebenezer were on military duty from June 1 to

November 22, 1725, for 25 weeks. Ebenezer, Sr. was a sargeant in the Captain

Joshua Moody Company, evidently during the Drummer's War. (

New England Historical & Genealogical Register,

Vol. 49, p. 189)

On March 25, 1727/28, Ebenezer, Sr., was granted a ten acre lot in the Town of

Falmouth. (Gerrish, p. 69)

On May 27, 1727/28, he was granted a lot consisting of one acre, a lot that a

William Davis had forfeited. (

Ibid.,

p. 47)

On September 18, 1727, he sold the one acre lot he was granted on May 27, 1727,

to Samuel Proctor for 16 pounds 12 shilling. (

York Deeds,

Book XII, Folio 255)

At some time in 1727/28, Ebenezer was taken in by the town of Falmouth as a

proprietor upon the payment of ten pounds, as was his son, Ebenezer, Jr., along

with others. (Willis, pp. 889-90)

On December 15, 1728, he purchased, for 20 pounds, from Ebenezer Pratt, all his

rights in and titles to lands in the town of Falmouth. Pratt was one of the

Falmouth Petitioners. (Source:

York Deeds,

Book XII, Folio 346)

In 1730, Ebenezer was in service in the Captain Moses Pearson Company from

February 25 to July 25 for 2 weeks and 4 days, wages being 6 pounds 14 shillings

and 10 pence. The services continued from July 26 until September 30. He was a

"centinal" at 1.5 per month, total wages in this period of 9 weeks and 4 days

being 2 pounds 19 shillings and 10 pence. (Maine Historical Society)

On May 11, 1730, a committee determined that Ebenezer Hall, and others named,

were entitled to their rights through the common laws because they or their

fathers were settlers in the ancient settlement under Governor Danforth. Thus,

these people became proprietors of the common and undivided lands in the

Township of Falmouth. (Gerrish, pp. 31-32)

Ebenezer later disposed of his Falmouth property. On November 2, 1730,

Ebenezer Hall sold to Samuel Proctor, for 25 pounds, one-half of a 10 acre lot

laid out to Ebenezer by the Town of Falmouth. (

York Deeds,

Book XIV, Folio 85)

On December 25, 1730, a list was published of people who helped pay part of the

300 pounds used by Falmouth to pay the minister salary and other town debts.

Included names were Ebenezer Hall, Sr., Ebenezer Hall, Jr., and Cornelius Hall,

a son of Ebenezer Hall, Sr. (

Town of Falmouth, Town Records,

Vol. 2)

On December 27, 1731, Ebenezer Hall sold to Samuel Proctor, for 25 pounds, the

other half of the 10 acre lot, half of it being sold previously to Samuel

Proctor on November 2, 1730. (Source:

York Deeds,

Book XV, Folio 244)

On October 22, 1733, Ebenezer and Jane sold to Westbrook and Waldo, for 90

pounds, a tract of 90 acres, Ebenezer's 30 and 60 acre lots as shown in the

Proprietors Town Book. Jane acknowledged the transaction, signing with her

mark, an "x." (Source:

Ibid.,

Book XVI, Folio 169)

In November of 1733, Ebenezer Hall sold to Phineas Jones, for 8 pounds, his

right, title and interest in the common and undivided lands and meadow

in Falmouth, excepting the one, three, ten, thirty, and 60 acre lots. (

Ibid.,

Book XVI, Folio 240)

On May 31, 1734, Ebenezer sold to Cornelius, for 300 pounds, "All that my farm

lying in Falmouth at a place called the Back Cove near Seacombs Point on which

farm I now dwell the which I purchased from John Smith (excluding any which may

come upon the land laid out to my son Ebenezer Hall) I now sell to my son

Cornelius--Butted and Bounded as follows viz South East on the Salt Water North

East on Land claimed by Samuel Sewal South West by Land that [Perez Bradfore]

reserved for himself when that he sold to Moses Goold & North West to the Land

laid out to my Son Ebenezer or however otherwise Bounded or reputed to be

Bounded together with the House and Fencing thereon standing." (

Ibid.,

Book XVI, Folio 240)

Where Ebenezer Hall, Sr. and Jr. were after that time is not known; however, in

1737, two Ebenezer Halls moved to Small Point, Maine. (

Maine Historical Society,

Vol. 2, pp. 177-180) Ebenezer Hall, Jr. did live there until after 1745, but

Ebenezer Hall, Sr., probably remained there for only a short time.

Some evidence indicates that Ebenezer Hall had prior interests related to Small

Point. In

Small_Point,_The_Cape_of_Many_Islands, 1667-1965

by Stanwood C. and Margaret Gilman, the statement is made on Page 3 that "On the

map of Phineas Jones, 1731, Hall's house is shown in the Sprague field. J.

Bradford Sprague knew the site of the old Grant House and cemetery to the

eastward of his home." On Page 5, the statement is made that "The house

of Ebenezer Hall is shown on Jones' Map, 1731, in the Sprague field near Wyman's

store." In September of 1983, a resident stated that a Hall's Beach was located

nearly in front of the Alliquippa Hotel near the site of "Ancient Augusta." The

beach is probably related to Ebenezer, Jr., rather than to Ebenezer, Sr.

Ebenezer and Jane resided at Gorham, Maine, at some time after leaving

Falmouth, probably arriving there soon after 1738.

When writing of the early days of Gorham, Pierce stated that "soon after came

Eb McLellan, William Pote, William Cotton, Ebenezer Hall, the Ossipees, who had

been driven from this part of Maine." (Josiah Pierce,

A History of the Town of Gorham, Maine,

Portland, Maine, Foster & Cushing, 1862, pp. 41-2) Also, according to Josiah

Pierce, soon after 1738, Ebenezer was in Gorham. (

Ibid.,

p. 43) In 1745, when the Fifth Indian War began, Gorham, a frontier town, was

entirely exposed, and Ebenezer Hall and his family are mentioned in the history

of Gorham as one of those who went to Falmouth. Pierce also stated that in

1745, those who left the town were William Pote, James Irish, John Eayr, Caleb

Cromwell, Ebenezer Hall, William Cotton, Benjamin Skillings, and Benjamin

Stevens. (

Ibid.,

p. 43)

Pierce, when attempting to identify the family, linked Ebenezer Hall to the

Hatevil Hall line, rather than to the George Hall line. He further stated that

there were several other families of Halls and that their posterity were then

[1862] living in Gorham. (

Ibid.,

p. 171)

A York County Deed, Volume 24, Page 296, dated 29 Dec. 1741 shows that Ebenezer

Hall of Gorham for one hundred pounds paid by Joseph Noyes of Falmouth sells

tract of land that Hall purchased from John Smith except 5 acres that Jasper

Blake purchased of Cornelius Hall of Back Cove.

Hugh McLellan, in his

History of Gorham, Maine,

published in Portland, Maine, by Smith & Sale in 1903, on page 527, stated as

follows:

"As early as 1741, an Ebenezer Hall and family were living in Gorham, where he

owned the thirty acre lot No. 31. At the time of the breaking out of the French

and Indian War in 1745, he left the town, going probably to Falmouth. Who this

Ebenezer Hall was is not quite certain, but the weight of such evidence as we

have been able to procure seems to point to his being identical with Ebenezer,

the son of Samuel, and the grandson of George. This Ebenezer . . . was born in

1677, married Jane Bumpus in 1714 [1704], and in 1735 was living in Falmouth.

He was a member of Capt. Moses Pearson's Falmouth company, raised in March, 1745

,

to take part in the expedition against Louisburg. Parson Smith recorded in his

Journal,

under date of Feb. 25, 1747, "We hear father Hall of this place lately died at

Annapolis." His estate was settled by his widow Jane in October 1747. There

is no record of his family, but there was a Charles Hall living in Gorham in

1756 who may possibly have been his son. In 1765 this Charles was living in

Standish." (Hugh McLellan,

History_of_Gorham,_Maine,

Portland, Maine, Smith & Sale, 1903, p. 527)

In 1742, Ebenezer Hall, Sr., was in service in the Captain Arthur Noble Company

as a private from July 19 through August 11, 1742, for a time of three months

and three days. (Myron Stachiw, ed.,

Massachusetts Officers & Soldiers,

1723-1743, New England Historic Genealogical Society, p. 108)

Later, he was a member of Captain Moses Pearson's Falmouth Company, raised in

March, 1745, to take part in the expedition against Louisburg (McLellan, p.

527), a fort controlled by France on Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. His name,

identified as a private, is on a list of Captain Moses Pearson's Falmouth

Company, the original roll being in the possession of the Honorable Andrew Hawes

of Portland, Maine [in 1910]. (Henry Burrage,

Maine at Louisburg in 1745,

Augusta, Maine, Burleigh & Flynt, 1910, p. 85)

Regarding the siege, the gathering of the troops was accomplished in April,

1745. The landing at Gabarus Bay occurred on May 11, and the occupancy of

Louisburg was accomplished on June 28, 1745; of the 2600 New Englanders who

reluctantly garrisoned Louisburg over the winter of 1745-46, nearly half died,

though the siege itself had killed only 101 men. ("The Siege of Louisbourg,"

Yankee Magazine,

June, 1980, pp. 116-121)

On May 20, 1746, agents, men who were designated as collectors of war bounty fo

r

specified men or groups, met at Captain Peter Prescott's location. A Captain

Benjamin Goldthwait was the agent for Colonel Waldo's Regiment. The writer

stated, "Other officers and men I am unable to classify: Ebenezer Hall and

Ebenezer Hall, Jr. [of 119 listed of 8 Regiments]. (

New England Historical & Genealogical Register,

vol. 25, p. 253)

After the surrender of the city, Captain Pearson was appointed agent for Sir

William Peperell's Regiment, and he remained at Louisburg the remainder of the

year 1745 and part of 1746, superintending the construction of barracks and a

hospital. (Willis, p. 421)

After the Siege of Louisburg, Colonel Noble evidently returned home with his

regiment from Louisburg. An expedition was then planned regarding the fort

Grande Pre' at Minas, and Colonel Noble was selected to command the expedition

because he was a popular commander and because he could draw recruits from those

who had seen service at Cape Breton and who had recently returned from there.

Colonel Noble filled his rolls, even though it was for a winter campaign in Nova

Scotia. (

Collections of the Maine Historical Society,

vol. VIII, Portland, Maine, Hoyt, Fogg & Donham, 1881, Article II, p. 127)

Evidently, Ebenezer and his son did not remain at Louisburg. According to

Willis, "Several of our people died at Louisburg after the surrender, of the

camp fever, and others were killed at Minas, in an attack on that place in

January, 1747, by the French and Indians, among whom were Captain Jones and

Moses Gilman. Ebenezer Hall and Mr. Roberts died at Annapolis about the same

time . . . . (Willis, pp. 420-21) At that time, Ebenezer, Sr., and Ebenezer,

Jr., were evidently on duty in Annapolis under Colonel Arthur Noble.

Further, a list of the Captain Charles Morris's Company, 1747, from the "Knox

Manuscripts" from August 25, 1747, to October 24, 1747, shows Sgt. Ebenezer

Hall, Jr., and Private Ebenezer Hall, the company being in Brig. Gen. Waldo's

Regiment of Foot raised for the reduction of Canada, both on duty in his Majesty

Garrison of Annapolis Royal, as Certified in Boston on September 7, 1747. (

New England Historical & Genealogical Register,

vol. 27, pp. 418-19) Evidence indicates that Ebenezer, Sr., died prior to the

stated dates; his death could have occurred earlier, unknown to the officers who

certified. However, Ebenezer's wife, Jane, submitted his estate for probate in

October of 1747.

Grand Pre' at Minas was occupied by Colonel Arthur Noble on December 24, 1746,

with a contingent of 470 men from Massachusetts. On January 31, 1747, Grande

Pre' was attacked, and Colonel Noble was killed at that time. After the

surrender, some of the English left Grand Pre' in the later part of February,

1747, to return to Annapolis, a distance of 80 miles through the deep snow and

cold.

On March 9, 1747, a Boston paper stated "that 25 of our wounded men were

recovered, and returned to Annapolis; the rest (about 30) being at Minas under

the care of a surgeon." (Source:

Collections of the Maine Historical Society,

vol. VIII, Article 11, p. 137)

Charles A. E. Long stated in

Matinicus Isle

that Ebenezer, Sr., and his son Ebenezer were at the Battle of Minas, Nova

Scotia, on January 31, 1747, in the Regiment of Colonel Arthur Noble and that

Ebenezer, Sr., died at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, in July of 1747. (Charles A. E.

Long,

Matinicus Isle,

Lewiston, Maine, Lewiston Journal Printshop, 1926, p. 169)

The death date stated by Charles A. E. Long may be incorrect. An entry by the

Reverend Thomas Smith in his journal [under date of Feb. 25, 1747] stated, "We

hear father Hall and Roberts of this place lately died at Annapolis. (William

Willis, ed.,

Journals of the Reverend Thomas Smith and the Reverend Samuel Deane,

Portland, Maine, Joseph S. Bailey, 1849, p. 127)

Ebenezer Hall, Sr., was probably one of the "25 of our wounded men who were

recovered and returned to Annapolis," as previously cited. Ebenezer thus must

have died sometime after February 11 and before February 25, 1747, the date of

Reverend Smith's entry in his journal. Jane Hall, Ebenezer's wife, later

petitioned the Massachusetts Bay Colony for a nursing allowance, as illustrated

by the following as passed by the governing unit:

Massachusett Province Laws

(Resolves, etc.) 1747-8 Chapter 85

Order Allowing 4 pounds to Jane Hall. A petition of Jane Hall Shewing that her

husband Ebenezer Hall being a Soldier in the late Expidition, returned home

very sick & continued so many months & the Petitioner being Skilled in Medicine

performed the part both of a Doctor & a Nurse, Praying for an Allowance for the

same.

Read &

Ordered that the Committee of War be directed to allow the Petitioner Four

pounds in full consideration for the Expences in the Petition mentioned [Passed

Aug. 21]

Some unanswered questions remain as to the death and burial site of Ebenezer.

If Charles A. E. Long is correct in his statement that Ebenezer, Sr., and his

son were at the Battle of Minas and the Reverend Smith's entry of February 25,

1747, is correct, Ebenezer undoubtedly died at Annapolis after being wounded on

February 11, 1747, at Grande Pre'. The 80 mile trek across the cold and snowy

terrain between Minas and Annapolis could well have been near fatal,

contributing further to his demise. He was near 70 years of age at the time.

Some questions remain about the validity of the statement in Jane Hall's

petition stating that he "returned home very sick & continued so many months."

If this statement is true, Ebenezer, it seems, didn't die at Annapolis; his home

was at Falmouth; therefore, if her statement is true, he died at Falmouth, and

he didn't die as indicated in Reverend Smith's journal entry of Feb. 18, 1747.

The possibility exists that the Reverend Smith's entry was incorrect and that

Ebenezer was injured rather than killed. If Jane did nurse him for months, his

death in July of 1747 could well be correct. That date would coincide quite

well with the date of October, 1747, at which time Ebenezer's estate was settled

by his widow, Jane Hall.

A request was sent to Massachusetts for a copy of the original petition by Jane

Hall in which she requested compensation for her care of her husband. A reply

stated that the petition could not be found, that it may have been burned in a

fire. The order which allowed the payment did not contain any details as to the

time involved.

As stated, Ebenezer's estate was submitted for probate by his wife Jane in

October of 1747.

The following consists of entries pertaining to the probating of Ebenezer's

estate as printed in MAINE PROBATE ABSTRACTS: Vol. 7, Page 291: 7/169. EBENEZ

ER

HALL, of Falmouth. LA (7.100). F8112. LA gr Falmouth 7 Oct 1747, to Jane Hall,

wid, of the est of her husb Ebenezer Hall of Falmouth, decd int, with t&p ;inv

exh at or bef 7 Jan next, & a p&t acct at or bef 7 Apr 1748. Vol. 7, Page 314:

7/351 EBENEZER HALL, of Falmouth. Accts (7.202). F8112. Nathan Winslow's acct

of cost & disbs as admor of the est of his fr Ebenezer Hall, late of Falmouth,

decd, totaling Pounds 32/19/11; att & all, Falmouth 5 Oct. 1748. Vol 8, Page

331: 8/2 EBENEZER HALL, of Falmouth. Accts (8.2). F8112. Nathan Winslow acct

of costs & disbs as admor of the est of Ebenezer Hall, late of Falmouth decd,

totaling Pounds 84/10/1; att & all, Falmouth 4 Oct 1749, Pounds 74/6/8, O.T.

Vol. 8, Page 345-6: 8/100 EBENEZER HALL of Falmouth, Inv. (8.62). F8112. Inv of

the est of Ebenezer Hall, late of Falmouth, decd, appr Falmouth 23 Mar 1747 at

Pounds 147/19/0 by Moses Pearson, Jabez Fox & James Milk; val at Falmouth 13

June 1748, by Jabez Fox, Esq. & Capt. Moses Pearson; ext att Falmouth 5 Nov

1750, by Nathan Winslow, admor. Vol. 8, Page 383: 8/355. EBENEZER HALL, of

Falmouth. Accts (8.216). F8112. Nathan Winslow's acct of costs & disbs as admor

of the est of Ebenezer Hall, late of Falmouth, decd, totalling Pounds 91/6/5 +

13/7/6 [also, credits]: att & all, York, 14 Jan 1753. Acct incl item of 18 Aug

1751: pd. David Gorham, Esq. for Hall's right in Gorham Town which he purch of

Col Shubal Gorham [it appeared by the list of proprietors that sd right belonged

to another man.]

York Co. records of 1731 show that Ebenezer Hall of Falmouth was a defendant

with the plaintiff, Frencis Wyman of North Yarmouth, seeking 10 pounds. The

contention was that Ebenezer was "justly indebted" concerning a woman servant in

the amount of ten pounds. The servant was Mary (Bunts, Bantos, Bants? Bunts

most likely). The jury found for Ebenezer on March 24, 1731, and Ebenezer

recovered the costs of court.

In July of 1739, Ebenezer was of North Yarmouth and James McCaslin was of

Falmouth. A dispute existed between them. Ebenenzer recovered 30 pounds and 5

pounds of court costs.

The

History of Gorham

states that Ebenezer lived in Falmouth in 1735, in Gorham (Lot 31) in 1741, and

that he died on 25 Feb. 1747 at Annapolis. The statement is also made that it

is believed he was the father of Charles who was in Gorham in 1756 and who

was later in Standish in 1765. Standish consisted of land grants to people who

fought in the French and Indian Wars.

In "The Mayflower Descendant," Vol. 36, No. 2, July 1986, is the following from

the account book of Thomas Leonard of Taunton, who was a Justice of the Peace

there. The event occurred about 5 years prior to Ebenezer's marriage to Jane.

May the first 1699 John Caswell was Convicted before Thomas Leonard Justice of

suffering musick & dancing in his house the Evining before being the Evining

after the Lords day and Ebenezer hall and thomas Caswel Junior were then also

convicteed of Dancing at said place on said Evining all by their own Confession

and partly by the sight and hearing of said Justice and the Information of

Elisabeth the wife of John caswel & Sarah hall for which said John Caswell and

Ebenezer hall and Thomas Caswell were sentanced to pay each of them a fine of

five shillings. Ebenezer hall paid then. John Caswel promised to pay; & Thomas

Caswel Senior promised to pay for his son. (The Thomas Leonard Account Book.

Manuscript, Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton, Massachusetts. Box 51; n.p.,

n.d.)."

Every person named therein is a relative. Some are related to George Washingto

n

Burgess through his mother Eliza Hall, some are related to his wife, Nancy

Sylvina Conant, and some are related to both George and Nancy.

Thomas Leonard (1641-1713) was related to Nancy, son of her 6-great

grandparents, James and Mary (Martin) Leonard.

John Caswell (1656-ca-1714), was also Nancy's 7-great uncle, son of her 6-great

grandparents, Thomas and Mary Caswell. The J.P. and John Caswell were not

related but almost 14 years before the trial, on 1 June 1685, Thomas' brother,

Uriah married John's sister Elizabeth. Uriah and Elizabeth (Caswell) Leonard

(who lived in Taunton at the time but either did not attend the party or didn't

get caught) were Nancy's 5-great grandparents. John Caswell was also George's

5-great uncle by marriage.

Ebenezer Hall (1677-174-) was George's 3-great grandfather. Thomas Caswell

Junior (1678- ? ) was Nancy's first cousin six times removed, a nephew of host

John Caswell, and son of Nancy's 7-great uncle and aunt, Thomas and Mary (Jones)

Caswell.

Elizabeth, the informer and wife of John Caswell is known to us as Elizabeth

(Hall) Caswell (1670-1739). She was Ebenezer Hall's sister. At the time of the

party in her home, she was the mother of four children--ages 2, 3, 7, and 8.

She was George's 5-great aunt and Nancy's 7-great aunt by marriage.

Sarah Hall (1679- ? ) the other informer, was Ebenezer and Elizabeth's sister

and George's 5-great aunt. She was 20 at the time, probably prior to her

marriage to John Austin.

Thomas Caswell, Sr. (1651- ca 1726), who promised to pay his son's fine, was

John's brother.

Although the town records of Taunton, Massachusetts before about 1800 were destroyed in a fire in 1838, many of the marriages, births, and deaths were recorded in the Proprietor's Records. These were printed in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, with the children of Samuel Hall being listed in Vol. 16. Ebenezer's marriage to Jane Bumpus was recorded in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 13, of marriages in Taunton, Massachusetts as follows: "Ebenezer Hall and Jane Bumpus mar. June 22, 1704." According to the information of the late Robert L. Hall, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Ebenezer died 23 Mar 1746/1747 in Falmouth (Portland), Cumberland, Maine. For his source, he cites entries in Vol. 7 and 8 of Maine Probate Abstracts, particularly the Inventory of the estate of "Ebenezer Hall, late of Falmouth, decd., appr Falmouth 23 Mar 1747..." valued at Falmouth on 13 Jun 1748 by Jabez Fox, Esq. & Capt. Moses Pearson. Rev. David B.Hall, in his "Halls of New England," says that Ebenezer was a farmer and resided in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The will of Ebenezer's father, Samuel Hall, was made on Jan. 25, 1688-1689. In it Ebenezer and his brother George were given several pieces of land to be equally divided. Ebenezer is on the roster of the First Military Co. of Taunton in 1700, and it appears that he was sent on an expedition during Queen Anne's War to Casco Bay (later Falmouth and subsequently Portland, Maine). He is one of the new proprietors of the "Neck" area who petition in 1717 to have a committee to make decisions concerning the claims of former proprietors who were now pressing claims to the land. In 1724 he was among those who were "granted and confirmed unto their house lots." Later both Ebenezer Sr. and Jr. paid 10 pounds each so that they could share in a future division of the common lands. Ebenezer deeded his farm at Back Cove to his son Cornelius Hall for 300 pounds on 31 May 1734 and subsequently Rev. Smith recorded in his journal that both Ebenezer Hall and his son Ebenezer had moved to the east. It is difficult to determine which Ebenezer is being referred to in the references to an Ebenezer Hall at Small Point and Gorham, Maine, but it is possible that it was this Ebenezer Hall Sr. who was in Gorham, Maine in 1738 and owned land there in 1741, then returned to Falmouth, Maine in 1745 when the 5th Indian war broke out. Ebenezer is credited with being in Capt. Moses Pearson's Company in the expedition that captured the fort at Louisburg, Nova Scotia from France in 1745. On 8 Sep 1747, both Ebenezer Hall and Sgt. Ebenezer Hall, Jr. are on list of soldiers being sent to Annapolis Royall in Nova Scotia. Rev. Smith of Falmouth in his journal for 25 Feb 1747/8 wrote: "We hear father Hall and Robert of this place lately died at Annapolis." On 21 Aug of the 1747-48 Session of the General Court, Jane Hall was allowed four pounds for nursing "her Husband Ebenr Hall being a Soldier in the Expidition, he returned home very sick & continued so months". His estate reportedly was settled by his widow Jane in October, 1747.

GEDCOM Note

BIRTH: also Marshfield, MA ??

BIRTH: also Marshfield, MA ??